USPTO Patents Application 08487526

Serial No. 08/487,526
Docket No. 05634.0355

^1

I. AMENDMENT AND REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION
UNDER 37 C.RR.§ 1.116

This amendment is responsive to the Final Office Action mailed September 4,

2001. Applicants respectfully request that the following amendments be entered into the

above-captioned application:

A. In the Claims

Applicants request entering the below amendments to the claims:

Claims l-liM-^l. 5]/& 53-60 are amended;

claim 52 is unchanged; and

claims 19, 6t^5^e cancelled.

For the PTO 's convenience, claims that remain unchanged are included below in
order to allow the Examiner to review all pending claims from this response in their
numerical order.

2. (Six Times Amended) A method of outputting a multimedia
presentation at a receiver station adapted to receive a plurality of signals, said method
comprising the steps of:

receiving said plurality of signals, at least a portion of said plurality of signals
being received from a source external to said receiver station, said plurality of signals
including at least two media;

storing a first medium included in said at least a portion of said plurality of
signals to provide a first portion of said multimedia presentation;

determining content of a second medium received in said plurality of signals;

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coordinating, at said receiver station under computer control, a presentation of
I said first portion of said multimedia presentation with a presentation of said second
1^ medium based on said step of determining; and

outputting said multimedia presentation to a viewer or listener at said receiver
station based on said step of coordinating such that content of said first portion has a
predetermined relationship to content of said second medium.

3. (Four Times Amended) The method of claim 2, wherein said first
medium is stored in said computer.

4. (Three Times Amended) The method of claim 3, wherein said
computer performs said step of determining.

5^^ (Four Times Amended) The method of claim 2, wherein each of said
plurality of signals is received from an extemal transmitter station.

6. (Four Times Amended) The method of claim 5, wherein said extemal
transmitter station is an intermediate transmitter station, said method further comprising the
step of programming said receiver station to process signals originated by said extemal
transmitter station.

7. (Four Times Amended) The method of claim 2, wherein said content
of said second medium explains a significance of said content of said first portion of said
multimedia presentation.

\\^^^ 8. (Twice Amended) The method of claim 7, wherein said content of said

(^^^ second medium explains said significance in audio and said receiver station includes a first

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I J selective transfer device, said method further comprising the step of causing said first

/I WUaM selective transfer device to communicate said audio to an audio output device.

9. (Four Times Amended) The method of claim 8, wherein said second
medium comprises further information for output at said receiver station in addition to said
audio and said receiver station includes a plurality of selective transfer devices, said method
further comprising the step of causing a second of said plurality of selective transfer devices
to communicate said further information for output to an additional output device separate
from said audio output device.

10. (Four Times Amended) The method of claim 9, wherein said second
medium comprises television, including video and said audio, wherein said further
information for output includes said video, and wherein said additional output device
separate from said audio output device includes a video output device.

1 1 . (Three Times Amended) The method of claim 2, wherein said
plurahty of signals includes a digital data channel.

12. (Three Times Amended) The method of claim 11, wherein said
receiver station receives said first medium in said digital data channel.

ive Times Amended) The method of claim 2, wherein said step of

{4-^ 13. (Fiv

determining comprises processing an identifier.

14. (Four Times Amended) The method of claim 13, wherein said
identifier identifies said content of said second medium.

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15. (Three Times Amended) The method of claim 14, wherein said
content of said second medium includes audio.

16. (Three Times Amended) The method of claim 14, wherein said
content of said second medium includes video.

17. (Three Times Amended) The method of claim 2, further comprising
the step of storing said second medium at said receiver station.

1 8. (Four Times Amended) The method of claim 17, wherein said second
medium is stored based on said step of determining.

19. (Cancelled)

20. (Four Times Amended) A method of outputting a multimedia
presentation at a receiver station adapted to process a plurality of signals, said plurality of
signals including first and second media of said multimedia presentation, said method
comprising the steps of:

receiving a first of said plurality of signals from a source external to said receiver
station, said first of said plurality of signals including an identifier;

processing said first of said plurality of signals to provide said first medium of
said multimedia presentation and said identifier;

identifying content of said first medium based on said identifier;

controlling said receiver station, based on said step of identifying, to respond to a
processor instruction which is separately received from said identifier;

responding to said processor instruction to coordinate presentation of said first
and said second media based on identifying content of said second medium; and

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outputting said multimedia presentation based on said step of responding.

21. (Twice Amended) The method of claim 20, wherein said receiver
station includes a first selective transfer device and said outputting step comprises the
step of controlling said first selective transfer device to transfer one of said first and
second media to an output device.

22. (Twice Amended) The method of claim 21, wherein said step of
^ controlling comprises originating said second medium of said first and second media.

23. (Twice Amended) The method of claim 21 , wherein said receiver
station includes a plurality of selective transfer devices, said method further comprising
the step of causing a second of said plurality of selective transfer devices to store said
first medium of said first and second media.

24. (Twice Amended) A method of outputting a multimedia presentation
at a receiver station, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving, at said receiver station, first and second media of said multimedia
presentation from at least two different sources, only one of said first and second media
containing television programming, said television programming including audio and
video;

receiving, from a remote transmitter station, a control signal at said receiver

station;

identifying content, at said receiver station, of said first medium of said
multimedia presentation based on said control signal;

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coordinating presentation, based on said step of identifying, of said first medium
of said multimedia presentation with presentation of said second medium of said
multimedia presentation; and

outputting said first medium of said multimedia presentation at a first output
device at said receiver station, and said second medium at a second output device at said
receiver station.

25. (Twice Amended) The method of claim 24, wherein said at least two
different sources include a plurality of different local sources, and wherein said first and
said second output devices comprise a speaker and a printer,

26. (Twice Amended) A method of outputting a multimedia presentation
at a receiver station adapted to receive a plurality of media and process at least one of
said plurality of media, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving, at said receiver station, at least two of said plurality of media from
different sources, at least one of said different sources being a remote transmitter station;

processing said at least two of said plurality of media in order to output said
multimedia presentation;

identifying content of a first and content of a second of said at least two of said
plurality of media based on said step of processing;

outputting said multimedia presentation based on said step of identifying, said
multimedia presentation comprising one of a sequential and a simultaneous presentation
of information based on said first of said at least two of said plurality of media and
information based on said second of said at least two of said plurality of media.

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27. (Twice Amended) The method of claim 26, wherein said receiver
station includes a storage device, said method further comprising the step of storing said
at least two of said plurality of media at said receiver station.

28. (Twice Amended) The method of claim 27, further comprising the step
of originating a portion of said multimedia presentation at said receiver station based on
said step of storing.

29. (Twice Amended) A method of outputting a multimedia presentation
at a receiver station having an output device, said method comprising the steps of:

processing a control signal at said receiver station that programs a processor to
create a series of discrete video images;

identifying content of a first medium, said first medium to be output in said
multimedia presentation;

causing a video image of said series of discrete video images to be output based
on said step of identifying; and

combining said outputted video image into said multimedia presentation at said
output device based on said step of causing to be output, said multimedia presentation
comprising said first medium and said outputted video image of said series of discrete
video images.

30. (Twice Amended) The method of claim 29, wherein said step of
identifying comprises processing an identifier, said method further comprising the step of
receiving said identifier from a remote transmitter station.

31. (Cancelled)

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32. (Cancelled)

33. (Twice Amended) A method of outputting a multimedia presentation
at a receiver station, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a first signal from a remote transmitter station;

outputting said first signal at said receiver station;

receiving a user response based on said step of outputting;

identifying content of said first signal;
1^ comparing, based on said user response, said content to data stored at said

Jk receiver station;

tunmg said receiver station to receive a second signal based on said step of
comparing; and

outputting said multimedia presentation at said receiver station, said multimedia
presentation comprising information included in said first signal and information
included in said second signal.

34. (Twice Amended) The method of claim 33, further comprising the step
of transmitting information from said receiver station based on said step of receiving said
user response.

35. (Twice Amended) The method of claim 34, wherein said information
transmitted from said receiver station includes at least a portion of said user response.

36. (Twice Amended) The method of claim 34, wherein said transmitted
information is transmitted by telephone.

37. (Twice Amended) A multimedia presentation apparatus comprising:

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at least one receiver for receiving a plurality of signals, wherein at least a portion
of said plurality of signals is received from a source external to said multimedia
presentation apparatus, said plurality of signals including at least two media;

a storage device for storing a first medium included in said at least a portion of
said plurality of signals to provide a first portion of a multimedia presentation;

at least one processor operatively connected to said at least one receiver and said
storage device for providing said first portion of said multimedia presentation, wherein
said at least one processor coordinates a presentation of said first portion of said
multimedia presentation with a presentation of a received second medium based on
determining content of said second medium; and

at least one output device operatively connected to said at least one receiver and at
least one of said at least one processor and said storage device for outputting said
multimedia presentation to a viewer or listener at said multimedia presentation apparatus
based on said coordinating such that content of said first portion has a predetermined
relationship to content of said second medium.

38. (Twice Amended) The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said at least one
processor determines said content of said second medium by processing an identifier
transmitted from said source extemal to said multimedia presentation apparatus, said
multimedia presentation apparatus further comprising a detector operatively connected to
said at least one processor for detecting said identifier.

39. (Twice Amended) The apparatus of claim 38, wherein said multimedia
presentation apparatus receives a multichannel signal, said multimedia presentation
apparatus further comprising a converter operatively connected to said at least one receiver
for communicating a portion of said multichannel signal.

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40. (Twice Amended) The apparatus of claim 39, further comprising a first
controlled device operatively connected to said at least one processor for causing said
converter to select said second medium.

4 1 . (Twice Amended) The apparatus of claim 40, further comprising a
second storage device operatively connected to said converter for storing said second
medium.

42. (Twice Amended) The apparatus of claim 41 , further comprising a
second controlled device operatively connected to said at least one processor for causing
said second storage device to store said second medium.

43. (Twice Amended) A method of enabling a receiver station in a
network to output a multimedia presentation, said receiver station adapted to store a first
medium to provide a first portion of said multimedia presentation and to output said
multimedia presentation by receiving an information transmission, determining content of
a second medium received in said information transmission, coordinating presentation of
said first portion of said multimedia presentation with a presentation of said second
medium based on determining said content, and outputting said multimedia presentation
based on coordinating said presentation of said first portion of said multimedia
presentation with said presentation of said second medium, said method comprising the
steps of:

receiving said information transmission at a transmitter station in said network,
wherein said information transmission is adapted to cause said receiver station to
determine said content of said second medium, to coordinate presentation of said first
portion of said multimedia presentation with said presentation of said second medium
based on determining said content, and to output said multimedia presentation based on

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coordinating said presentation of said first portion of said multimedia presentation with
said presentation of said second medium; and

transmitting said information transmission to said receiver station before a
specific time;

whereby said receiver station is enabled to output said multimedia presentation.

44. (Twice Amended) The method of claim 43, wherein said receiver
station determines said content of said second medium by processing a first identifier, said
method further comprising the step of transmitting said first identifier.

1

45. (Twice Amended) The method of claim 44, further comprising the step
of including said first identifier in said information transmission.

46. (Twice Amended) The method of claim 45, wherein said receiver
station processes a portion of said first medium based on a second identifier, said method
further comprises the step of transmitting said second identifier.

47. (Twice Amended) The method of claim 46, wherein said receiver
station commences storing said portion of said first medium at a particular time, said method
further comprising the step of transmitting said portion of said first medium to said receiver
station before said particular time.

' 48. (Twice Amended) The method of claim 44, wherein said receiver
station is controlled, based on said first identifier, to respond to a processor instruction
which is received at said receiver station separately from said first identifier, said method
further comprising the step of including said processor instmction in said information
transmission.

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49. (Twice Amended) The method of claim 48, further comprising the step
transmitting said processor instruction from said transmitter station to said receiver
station at said specific time. ^

50. (Cancelled)

5 1 . (Twice Amended) A transmitter apparatus for enabling a receiver
station to output a multimedia presentation, said receiver station adapted to receive a
plurality of signals, store a first medium to provide a first portion of said multimedia
presentation, determine content of a second medium, coordinate presentation of said first
portion of said multimedia presentation with a presentation of said second medium based
on determining said content, and output said multimedia presentation based on
coordinating said presentation of said first portion of said multimedia presentation with
said presentation of said second medium, said transmitter apparatus comprising:

a receiver for receiving a first of said plurality of signals, wherein said first of said
plurality of signals is adapted to cause said receiver station to determine said content of
said second medium, to coordinate said presentation of said first portion of said
multimedia presentation with said presentation of said second medium based on
determining said content, and to output said multimedia presentation based on
coordinating said presentation of said first portion of said multimedia presentation with
said presentation of said second medium;

a transmitter operatively connected to said receiver for transmitting said first of
said plurality of signals to said receiver station before a specific time.

52. (Unchanged) The apparatus of claim 5 1 , wherein said receiver station
receives said plurahty of signals from said transmitter, said apparatus further comprising one

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of a signal generator and second receiver for communicating a second of said plurality of
signals.

53. (Twice Amended) The apparatus of claim 52, wherein said receiver
station receives said plurality of signals in a single information transmission, said apparatus
further comprising one of a combiner and a multiplexer for combining said first of said
plurality of signals and said second of said plurality of signals.

54. (Twice Amended) The apparatus of claim 5 1 , wherein said receiver
station determines said content of said second medium by processing a first identifier, said

' * apparatus further comprising a first processor for outputting said first identifier.

55. (Twice Amended) The apparatus of claim 54, wherein said receiver
station processes a portion of said first medium based on a second identifier, said apparatus
further comprising a selective transfer device operatively connected to said transmitter for
communicating at least one of said first identifier and said second identifier to said
transmitter.

56. (Twice Amended) The apparatus of claim 55, wherein said selective
transfer device communicates said first identifier and said second identifier, said apparatus
further comprising a controller operatively connected to said selective transfer device for
controlling said selective transfer device to communicate said first identifier and said second
identifier at different times.

57. (Twice Amended) A method of enabling a network to output a
multimedia presentation, said network including a transmitter station and a receiver station,
said receiver station adapted to receive a plurahty of media from different sources, process

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at least two of said plurality of media in order to output said multimedia presentation,
identify content of a first and content of a second of said at least two of said plurality of
media based on processing said at least two of said plurality of media and output said
multimedia presentation based on identifying said content of said first and said content of
said second of said at least two of said plurality of media, said transmitter station adapted to
transmit at least one of said at least two of said plurality of media based on an instruction,
said method comprising the steps of:

receiving at said transmitter station in said network said at least one of said at least
two of said plurality of media and said instruction; and

transmitting said at least one of said at least two of said plurality of media to said
receiver station in response to said instruction,

whereby said network is enabled to output said multimedia presentation.

58. (Twice Amended) The method of claim 57, wherein said receiver
station identifies said content of said first of said at least two of said plurality of media by
processing a first identifier and identifies said content of said second of said at least two of
said plurality of media by processing a second identifier, said method further comprising the
step of transmitting a first one of said first identifier and said second identifier.

59. (Twice Amended) The method of claim 58, wherein said transmitter
station transmits said first identifier and said second identifier to said receiver station, said
method further comprising the step of controlling said transmitter station to transmit said
first identifier and said second identifier at different times.

60. (Twice Amended) The method of claim 59, wherein said receiver
station is enabled to respond to a processor instruction based on said fu^t identifier and said

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second identifier, said method further comprising the step of transmitting said processor
instruction from said transmitter station to said receiver station.

61. (Cancelled)

62. (Cancelled)

63. (Cancelled)

64. (Cancelled)

65. (Cancelled)

IL SUMMARY OF APPLICANTS' RESPONSE AND REASONS

FOR ALLOWANCE OF PENDING CLAIMS

A. General Summary of Proposed Amended Claims and
Speciflcation Support thereto

Applicants propose to amend the pending claims to define an invention in which a

multimedia presentation is outputted or coordinated based on identifying or determining

content of at least one medium or signal. These features are not found in the prior art of

record, and at least these features constitute the patentable novelty presented in the

amended claims as proposed by applicants. The output or coordination of a multimedia

presentation is disclosed in multiple embodiments disclosed in the both the 1981 and

1987 specifications.^ For example, the most basic embodiment described starting at page

^ The 1987 specification refers to the specification of application serial number 08/1 13,329 filed September
11, 1987. This application claims the benefit of application serial number 08/1 13,329 under 35 U.S.C.
§ 120 and includes an identical specification.

The 1981 specification refers to the specification of application serial number 06/317,510 filed November
3, 1981. The instant application also claims the benefit of application serial number 06/317,510 under 35

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